Middlesex Women Defeat Royal Air Force

by Jim Taylor

Middlesex FA's women's representative side confidently defeat their counterparts from the RAF at Rectory Park.

Shares

The Middlesex FA Women’s team entertained the Royal Air Force at Rectory Park last Monday evening (11 February) and recorded an emphatic 5-0 victory, with all of the goals coming in the first half. This match provided good preparation for our girls prior to their forthcoming Southern Counties Competition final against Sussex.

Our girls took control from the start and went ahead in the 15th minute, through the speedy Anna Maria Dyzadyk, who picked up a through ball and netted from close range.

Beth McGhee worked herself into a good position and shot narrowly wide before Chloe Sampson doubled our lead in the 23rd minute. Chloe intercepted a defender’s pass, took the ball on through the defence and scored from an acute angle.

Chloe added a second and our third goal three minutes later, after being set up by Anna Maria.

Our visitors now brought our 'keeper, Paige Horsnell into the action and she made a string of high-class saves. She dived at McIntosh’s feet, stopped a close-range effort from Cassin, held a long high shot from McIntosh and then went full length to save a headed attempt, from a corner, by Widdicombe.

Middlesex’s fourth goal was set up and scored by Sheryce Slater after 40 minutes. Sheryce went on a defence splitting run and released Chloe Sampson, whose low cross rebounded off of the advancing Sheryce past the RAF keeper.

Three minutes later the score became 5-0, when Anna Maria smashed Beth’s pass high into the RAF net.

Half-Time Score: Middlesex 5 Royal Air Force 0

Middlesex manager Craig Nicholson took the opportunity in the second half to give a generous amount of playing time to his newly introduced players, all of whom performed well.

The RAF tightened their defence considerably but we continued to dominate possession and went close several times without adding to the score. Chloe Sampson, in particular, tested the keeper on several occasions and Alissa Down, Sharon Odofin and Lavina Neufville all had good efforts saved.
Final Score: Middlesex 5 Royal Air Force 0

The match was efficiently controlled by referee Tom Simmons, ably assisted by his Middlesex FA colleagues, David Lea and Mervyn Hughes.

It was a pleasure to entertain the players and officials from the Royal Air Force. More than five years has passed since our last encounter, on 23 January 2014, at Chesham United FC. Our thanks are due to our Rectory Park Centre team for facilitating this event so well.